Looking at the frequency in which players in Australia have increased their gambling before and after the COVID-19pandemic, it is clear that the numbers have increased, and gambling profits too.

According to online statistics relating to how the pandemic has affected gambling numbers , In 2020, 32 percent of players took a survey on gambling habits before and during the coronavirus pandemic which indicated that they gambled more than four times a week during the pandemic.

During the pandemic, the number of people gambling less often appears to have dropped slightly, however high-frequency gambling has increased.

Key Finding Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic

The global COVID-19 pandemic and related government restrictions led to changes in numerous areas of people's lives as well as several industries including the availability of gambling in Australia, with land-based gambling venues temporarily closed and major international and national sporting codes suspended.

To understand how people adjusted to these changes in gambling availability a survey was conducted on over 2,000 people who gamble from across Australia during June-July 2020, and interviews were done with key experts who work in gambling regulation, research, treatment and policy.

In the survey, several aspects were taken into consideration such as the types of products people gambled on before and during COVID-19 for example pokies, sports and betting. Gambling Online w as one of the biggest indicators of change and how people's gambling participation was affected. What was found was that almost 1 in 3 survey participants signed up for a new online betting account during COVID-19, and 1 in 20 started gambling online.

Other findings showed that even with restricted access to venues, overall, participants gambled more often during COVID-19. The proportion who gambled 4 or more times a week increased from 23% to 32%. The monthly spend on the activity, especially with men aged between 18 and 34 years increased their spending on gambling from $687 to $1075 and females reduced their spending.

In general, the increase was seen on several avenues including:

  • Keno
  • Instant scratch tickets
  • Poker/electronic gambling machines or 'pokies'
  • Casino table games

Responsible gambling restrictions have been implemented by many platforms and providers, however venues such as Crown Resorts, have seen a regaining of profits recently, and data which was released reflecting their full-year results showed the company reporting an annual profit of $558.9m, down 70% on its 2016/17 result.

But its profit in 2016/17 was inflated by proceeds from the sale of its Macau business. Their revenues for the year rose 4.5% to $3.49bn , with turnover in its VIP high-roller gambling business growing by 54.5% to $51.5bn.

However, other land-based casinos such as the Crown Perth in Western Australia suffered a loss on Pokies, at a whopping 47%.

Things That Contributed to The Change in Numbers

With online gambling increasing in its strength and participants, there are a few factors that may have contributed to this change in numbers, some are mentioned below:

The fact that gambling online is so easily accessible by many, not only on their laptops, and PCs but they are now available to download and play on mobile phones, which means you can play anywhere, and at any time. It is easy to open an account on the majority of the platforms and sometimes it can be done in as little time as under 1 minute to create an account and deposit money to play with.

Many of those who love going to the land-based casinos, sought new ways to continue this activity, because the majority of these places had to shut down due to COVID, and the next best option was to go online. Which made it an easier option than having to go to the physical venue and play.

Due to boredom, players were tempted to try it out and succeeded in enjoying playing online. Plus, the fact that there are more online games , an assortment of different themes, and more prizes and bonuses undoubtedly made it a better choice for most to pursue.

The Downside

As with everything online, gambling also has a downside. With the pandemic affecting many people’s mental health, it has in some instances become a problem. It is very easy for anyone to get caught up in the habit of gambling and things such as boredom or stress may affect this, contributing to people playing more and more every day.

Thus, many have also lost a lot of money. This has been counteracted by many Australian gambling authorities to place limits on gambling on many providers' websites as well as providing self-assessment tools to participants to help them make better decisions. If you are going through any of the below signs, perhaps it’s time for you to seek one of these and find out if you have a problem:

  • You think about gambling all the time.
  • You spend an increasing amount of money and time on it day and night.
  • If people such as your friends or relatives mention you have a gambling problem.
  • You are tapping into money from other resources that are meant for household utilities and bills to feed your habit.
  • You want to stop but find it difficult to do.
  • When you are not partaking in the gambling activity you feel anxious, because it makes you feel relaxed and calm.

In this case, the recommended advice is to seek support from your local authorities such as The Gambling Help Online services or an expert counsellor.

The act of gambling can go both ways, and the pandemic has had both positive and negative impacts on the industry. On the one hand, it can lead to excessive gambling, but on the other hand, many have found it an easy way to make more money to add to their personal savings basket and to buy essential household items.